2-3 Escaping the Danger

Date: August 20-21

Place: Sendai, Japan

[Haru]

    Rei has been out for a while.

"Don't you think it's weird?" said Kazuma.

"What's going on?" asked Ced.

    He pointed in some direction and we all looked at it. I saw some people fighting each other and the buildings are on fire.

"Haru, Kazuma, why don't you check on the girls? If I'm correct, they are at the wave pool. I'll take care of Rei for now. Meet us here. Or if something happens to call me. I have my phone right at the benches and so are yours, " exclaimed Ced looking so nervous.

    Something is wrong. We didn't argue about it and just did what Ced told us to do.

    He carried Rei to the benches and gave us a glare which I think interprets as 'Get going!'.

"Okay," I said.

"Don't do something to her! I'll get scolded by Yui if something happens to her!" yelled Kazuma that's running beside me and shouting in Ced's direction.

    I see Ced shouting something back but were too far to hear it now.

    The wave pool is far from the exit where we saw those weird things. We looked around for any signs of Yui and Misaki everywhere to find them.

    "What's going on?" asked Misaki jogging towards us with Yui beside her.

    I'm glad that they were safe.

    They said they went to the bathroom and planned to go to the wave pool again. But I grabbed Misaki's hand and Kazuma grabbed Yui's hand and ran.

"What's going on?"

"Where are we going?"

    They asked us a bunch of questions that I didn't bother to answer and neither did Kazuma. We just kept running.

    At some point, they tried to let go of our hands but we grabbed them again and this time we tried to explain everything we know. Like how we saw some strange things that are occurring and about what happened to Rei too.

[Cedrick]

    I brought Rei to the girls' shower room and laid her down when I felt anxious being around and open area. No one seems to be here so I thought it was fine.

    I sat beside her because I was worried sick. I'm not sure what's going on but she was struggling, catching her breath, and sweating.

"No" she claims often.

"Remember" she whispered and regained consciousness.

    She sat up covering her face with her hands.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

    She touched my forehead with her fingertips and looked at me. It feels like she's another person.

"Where are the others?" she asked.

    Eyes burning with fire, her voice is as cold and chilly as snow in the winter, and her expression is as scary as my nightmares.

    I didn't know what was happening but I think she has an idea when she opened the shower and looked at me.

"Did the rain pour on you?" she asked.

"I don't think so. Why?" I asked.

"Get in here, just to make sure. I'll explain everything when the time is right" she said going under the pouring water from the shower and so did I.

    After that, she told me to dry myself with the towel that was left behind on the opened lockers. It got a little chilly, maybe because the sun is setting soon.

    She also told me to wait inside while she gets something outside.

    I peeked at what she was doing when the door was openly swinging by the breeze of the wind. She was trying to get her bag outside, which is on the benches.

    I scanned the surroundings and saw someone. He was tall and slender, I don't know why but it looks like spikes and those gooey things are all over his body.

    He looked my way but before I hid, I saw its eyes, they were pitch black, the shape and its body are totally weird.

    Rei came back in with both her bag and my things and closed the door.

"What's going on? I saw something outside and it looked like it was not human at all," I asked her.

"Promise me you'll not tell anyone about this, " she says while searching for something in her bag.

"Even my two best friends and your best friend?" I asked her again.

"Absolutely and especially not to Yui. I don't want anyone to worry and I don't know why but my gut tells me that your trustworthy, " she replied.

"I promise," I said smiling at the compliment she told me or was it a compliment?

[Yui]

    We went back to the apartment that we rented, closed all the doors and windows. Sitting in the sofas, the floor, and some are just standing. We were all catching our breaths and trying to keep it as quiet as possible.

    Kazuma and Haru are now covered in the blood caused by the earlier events. It's was honestly a weird situation. And even if they told us everything that they knew, I think we're missing something important.

"What are we gonna do now?" asked Misaki wiping her tears.

"It's gonna be alright. But first, we have to call Ced and warn them, " said Haru who went to his girlfriend and comforted her while dialing the number of Ced in his phone.

    Kazuma went beside me too, wiping the dripping blood and sweat on him at the same time.

    When the phone was ringing, we made a small circle and waited for them to pick up.

"Hey! Your too close!" we heard Ced shouted and whispered at the same time as soon as they picked up.

"Sorry, I want to listen too" we heard Rei said.

    It was almost seven o'clock but the sun had already set. At this moment I can't even imagine making a joke or laughing.

"It's not the time to make some moves Ced, " said Kazuma half smiling.

    We couldn't help but smile at the thought.

"Don't even start. Anyway, where are you guys? I guess something happened on your way?" asked Ced.

"Well yes, we saw a zombie-like creature but stronger and bigger. We fought some of them and luckily no one is hurt. We're in the room that we rented. We're also planning to go where you are right now but I think it's too much trouble for us. Especially, I think there's a lot of those 'things' outside, surrounding this house. Got a plan?" Haru explained.

    I can see the terrified, nervousness, and sadness we all have on our faces.

"Maybe I'll make the plan" Rei exclaimed.

"What do you mean?" Misaki asked.

"Since I'm a game addict and I've watched too many movies than you guys, I think I'm suitable to be the captain of this group, " she replied giggling which made us all relieved and confused at the same time.

"I'm sorry, I think what she was trying to say is, she has a plan" Ced answered.

"Let's hear it," Haru said.

"First things first, wash if you touched the rainーi mean the green gooey thingー" Rei wasn't finished yet and was interrupted by Kazuma.

"Shower? At this kind of situation?" he asked.

"Can you listen first then react later? Anyway, I saw someone didn't wash it and became those 'things' you saw. So make sure to take a bath or just wash where the rain dumped on you. Secondly, we will move at night. Based on the movies and games that usually have this kind of scenarios, they are kind of vulnerable in the darkー"

"Seriously? You're going to gamble on that?" Kazuma interrupted again. But Rei just paused and continued.

"And get any weapons you can hit them with," she added.

"We'll be meeting up on the car. I think it is a gamble but that's all we can do for now, " she added.

"Do you even know where to go and what to do after that? Please put your hobby of watching movies and playing games out of the way and think that this is real life. We can get hurt or worst, die" explained Kazuma with an irritated voice.

"Does your disagreement mean that you have a better plan? If you do have, I want you to discuss it with us" we heard Rei say on the other line.

    She sounds angry and so does Kazuma who was left speechless. But I think deep inside in each and one of us, we all agree with what Kazuma said. We don't want to die and we don't want to just sit here, hoping to be rescued by someone who might not even come at all either.

"Butーhave you ever considered everyone's thoughts and feelings?" he explained with a calm but angry voice.

"No" Rei flatly said.

"Just as I thought. To be honest, I didn't like you from the very beginning. Why don't we all just sit still and wait for the rescuers, we have some food supplies here that can last us for just some days and I think it's better than your idea, Rei," he explained.

"Do as you wish, princess. Who's with me?" Rei asked like she didn't hear a thing from Kazuma.

"Are you evenー" Kazuma tried to argue.

"I'll come with Rei. I think it's better to do something than nothing" explains Ced on the other side.

"You're blinded by love Cedrick" sighing Kazuma sliding his hands down his face, expressing disappointment.

"I'm not evenー" we heard Ced explains himself.

"Can someone put duct tape on his mouth please?" we heard Rei calmed and well-mannered voice. I feel like she has a forced smile on her face right now.

"Are you sure? I mean no offense but have you ever seen what they can do? We barely made it here" Haru explained.

"I'm well aware," she said with confidence.

"I'll come with Rei too," I said.

"Great" cheered Rei.

[Rei]

    In the end, they all came and agreed to what I said. They didn't have any choices anyway. I instructed them to do some things and thankfully we didn't argue about anything this time.

    Cedrick has to come and get the car with Haru while we girls and Kazuma will take a different route so we won't be any burden for those two. We'll meet the car on the other side of the area.

    I can't tell them what I have in mind. Especially, my ideas and the pieces of information I've just learned at the time I woke up from those horrible nightmares.

    I finally regained all my memories back. Which means I remembered everything, from the very beginning. From when I was born 'till now.

    I don't know what to feel, happy for being able to remember it all, angry at what my parents did to me, blessed that I meet these people or scared for everything that happened and what's about to occur...

    Emotions are stirred inside me but I did know what I have to do, I have to focus right now and bring everyone to a safe place.

"Are you ready Ced?" I said picking up my bag while peaking outside, looking if there is some lurking danger. I saw three ugly-looking creatures. I don't even know what to call them.

"I think so," I hear him say with a shaking voice.

"Don't worry I just see three creatures roaming outside," I said almost laughing because of Cedrick looking so scared. I can't blame him though, who wouldn't?

"I'm here so don't worry because I'll be here to protect you. My princess," I said teasing him as I was stepping outside the room.

"Waitー," he said pulling me in again.

    This is bad, I think something saw me. The loud noise created by the closing door probably attracted attention. But I don't want to startle Cedrick so I just went with it and acted normal even if I'm internally screaming inside.

"I should protect you, I'm the knight and shining armor after all," he explained trying to smile while holding the knife with two hands pointing upwards.

    He looks like a scared puppy holding a big knife. But it's not the time for that because I know that when I open this door something will be waiting outside.

    And if your wondering where we got the knife from, I have it inside my bag. I'm always prepared.

"Ok, Ok. But don't say I didn't warn you. Something saw us when the door closedー"

"W-wait what? I'm sー"

"When I open this door get ready to strike in 1ー"

"I'm not readyー"

"2ー"

"Hey waー"

"3ー"

    I opened the door just like I said and Cedrick went running holding the knife near his stomach and pushed it until he stabbed somethingーthat creature.

    It was bleeding but it didn't have any effect at all. Neither a flinched nor scream can be seen or heard from it.

    I knew Cedrick was in danger when it was going to grab him. I acted rationally, pushed Cedrick out of the way, and pulled out the knife on the creature's stomach then it grabbed me instead.

    Even though I felt scared for a second I still decided to swang the knife I'm holding near his face. Scratching both of its eyes, perfectly blinded it.

"Run," I said shouting looking at Ced.

    He kicked it on its knees, as it let go of me, Cedrick grabbed my arm and we ran.

"Thanks," he said running, grasping my hand as tightly as he can.

    We stopped at some places to hide from time to time and fought some of those things too. We couldn't kill it so we just blinded it or damage its legs.

[Cedrick]

    We were now in front of the apartment that we rented, were lucky that none of those creatures are around. I knocked at the door but they didn't open it.

"It's us, Cedrick and Rei," I said knocking again.

"Hey! They say it's them, let them in" someone said inside.

"No, there's a chance that it was those things trying to trick us andー," someone said inside again, but I cut it short and took a deep breath before speaking.

"Haru likes watching Power Puff girls, playing Minecraft andー," I said.

    I wasn't even finished yet when they opened the door and let us in. Misaki and Yui are holding a laugh while Haru was covering his face with both his hands.

"You don't have to go that far," Haru said sitting on the near sofa, still embarrassed. We locked the doors again and formed a circle.

    Looks like Rei went to the kitchen, trying to find something and when she came back, she had cookies and water in hand.

"Everyone should eat up, we're going to have a long ride," she said drinking in a cup.

"Did you bring any extra gas Haru?" Rei added.

"Yes actually, but just two gallons or so, " he replied scratching his neck.

"That should be enough. How about the food supplies? Are there any left?" she asked again.

"Just some canned foods, chips, and drinks, " Misaki said looking down the floor.

"That'll suffice for now, " Rei nodded in approval.

"Where are we even going?" asked Kazuma calmed and well-mannered.

"The internet's working right?" she says looking at me, signaling me to open my phone and completely ignoring Kazuma.

"Yes, it is" I replied. I think she held a grudge from the earlier argument.

"Check it if the government had posted something, " she said standing up and going to the kitchen again.

    I hurriedly searched the internet and she's right, a lot of videos were uploaded already, saying where we should go and what we should do.

[Haru]

    It's about an hour since we split up.

    We were divided into two groups and different places to be at.

    We made it here safely but I'm kind of worried about the others. It's suspicious that we didn't see any of those things while we're on our way to our vehicle.

"Do you think we should go get them now?" I asked Ced who is going in circles for quite some time.

"I don't know, she also said that we should wait for her cue," he said, but I didn't know what is the cue that we're waiting for.

    He waited patiently, but he looks really worried. It's the second time I saw him act like that. The first time wasー

    Then a big explosion happened.

"Whaー" before I could even finish my sentence Ced pushed me to the driver's seat.

"That's the cue, " he said smiling and told me to go to the others quickly.

~(time skip scenarios)~

"Get on!" as Ced shouted those words, I was driving slowly so the others can catch up to the moving vehicle.

    The left and right doors were left open for either of them to get onto.

    I couldn't see what's happening, but I just knew that was in danger.

~~

    We are now driving through the expressway going to a military base located in Kyoto.

    It's night right now so I just drive slowly with the lights barely open to avoid unnecessary attention.

"So what happened back there? Why were a lot of those things following you guys? Did something bad happen?" I asked to break the awkward silence.

"Thanks to Kazuma," said Misaki.

"I already apologized," explained Kazuma almost yelling.

"I thought that thing grabbed me and I was just doing self-defense" he added.

"Cut it out guys," said Yui.

    And once again awkward silence spread to this whole vehicle.

    I took a peek in the mirror and saw Cedrick typing something on his phone with Rei right beside him who was searching through her bag.

    Rei spotted an abandoned little place where we all agreed to spend the night. There was a small garage that my car could fit in.

    We walked slowly and quietly, looking in every direction we can to make sure there are none of those things in our sight. It was dark, I think past midnight. We were all sleepy and hungry at the same time.

    It's just a one-story house, small and full of spider webs. We found a small kitchen, a small bedroom with a small bed, and a dining room.

"Who wants to sleep on the bed?" asked Misaki.

"I think we both should, I'm not that picky about sleeping with someone, " Yui replies smiling and putting her arm around Misaki's shoulder.

    After we scanned the place, Rei always has a suggestion that just makes sense.

    Misaki and Yui will sleep on the bed with Kazuma sleeping on the floor, she also ordered them to lock the doors and that Kazuma will be in charge of protecting those two girls. Who knows what danger lurks around us.

     Rei told me to sleep on the car, just in case someone might have the idea of stealing it, lock its doors and call them if something happens.

    I didn't hear where Ced and Rei decided to sleep. But they did say that we have to patrol in groups and take turns doing it.

    I didn't argue with anything they say or do. I'm so tired that I  just wanted to rest immediately.